ADECA to offer reimbursements for qualified hires

MONTGOMERY, Ala. – There is some really good news for employers looking to make new hires: an OTJ program that actually “pays” to make those hires!

OJT stands for “on-the-job training.” In conjunction with ADECA (Alabama Department of Economic & Community Affairs), it will reimburse companies for hiring individuals who have been laid-off, or who meet income guidelines (receiving food stamps, low or no income relative to family size in the last six months). The employer is reimbursed ½ of training wage (minimum $8.00). A company would receive $4.00 for each hour worked. The training time averages about 400 hours. When totaled, a reimbursement of $1600.00 is possible.

“To prepare an OJT contract, I would need a copy of the company’s 147-C form and current worker’s comp. and proof of enrollment in E-Verify system (13+ page memorandum of understanding). Electronic signature from Department of Homeland Security is mandatory,” said Angelia Todd, a local workforce development specialist with Alabama Joblink at the Alabama Career System in Talladega. “I would prepare the forms for the company representative’s signature from these three documents,” she said.

The hiring company must do its own training and not have employees on a lay-off.

“We are funded by ADECA, so there is no cost to the employer,” said Todd.

Applicants for employment who have been laid off such as Blue Bell, Georgia Pacific, Avondale, Russell, Koch Foods, Teksid, Ace, and Wehadke are automatically eligible. Applicants who have been underemployed in the last six months and/or are economically disadvantaged can be eligible too.

“We would interview the applicant to find out if and how they are eligible,” said Todd. “This could be done after the applicant interviews with you, and you plan on hiring them.”

All paperwork would have to be completed and approved before the OJT participant could begin work. Approval from Montgomery usually takes less than a week.